Hiring Seen By Warner

Published: March 2, 1989

Robert Pittman, who is credited with building MTV: Music Television into a leading cable service, is close to joining Warner Comunications Inc., according to a source close to the negotiations. But Mr. Pittman is still completing a separation agreement with MCA Inc., where he has had a venture with Quantam Media Inc.

Quantam tried to produce television shows and to make media acquisitions, but the company was more successful in the former area. Quantam looked at numerous acquisitions but was outbid in several cases.

Although Mr. Pittman did produce two television shows - ''The Morton Downey Jr. Show'' and ''Pictionary'' - for Quantum, he is believed to be more interested in making acquisitions than in producing television programs.